Select Asset Management acquires Total Fund Services

Brendan Foley Opalesque Industry Update - Specialist investment management group Select Asset Management Limited announced the acquisition of Australian financial services business Total Fund Services (TFS) for an undisclosed amount.

TFS provides specific regulatory services to Australian managed investment schemes, acting as a ‘responsible entity for hire’ to registered schemes and similar investment vehicles. The business will be integrated into Select Fund Services (Select FS) headed by Mr. Alex Wise.

“The addition of TFS highlights our intention to open up the inherent skills and experience that resides within our firm. Our vision is to leverage Select’s core principles of investor focus, investment rigour and original thinking to continue building an end-to-end, integrated investment management business,” Mr. Foley said.

“The pivotal part of this model is Select Investment Partners (Select IP), our specialist asset management arm led by Dominic McCormick. Select IP recently celebrated its 10th year of successful investing in Australia,” he said.

Mr. Foley said the TFS acquisition brings with it a number of high-profile financial services firms for which TFS acts as Responsible Entity (RE). The client list includes venerable brands Clime Investment Management, Man Group’s FRM and Yellow Brick Road.

Head of Select FS Alex Wise said funds services is a natural extension for Select given its reputation, client-focused principles and compliance standards.

“We take the business of investing other people’s money seriously, knowing that we operate in a highly complex regulatory environment. But we think differently about the challenges and opportunities facing investors today. Our track record clearly shows the benefits of responding with innovative product design and a robust due diligence process,” Mr. Wise said.

“We’re ideally positioned to nurture and grow our business, providing third party asset managers a package of ‘RE for hire’ services and distribution services through Winston Capital Partners, our alliance partner. Such asset managers typically focus on managing the money and welcome the support of dedicated experienced professionals to provide support on governance and operational matters,” he said.

Mr. Foley said TFS clients, under the guidance of new owner Select Funds Services, can expect continuing high quality service delivery and peace of mind knowing their fiduciary and regulatory needs are being well met.

The acquisition brings Select FS’ funds under administration to over $850m.